Australian healthcare startup Kismet, which connects caregivers, health insurance, and healthcare providers worldwide, has secured $8.2 million in seed funding. The round was led by Dutch VC Prosus Ventures, which has unicorns like Delivery Hero and Swiggy) and Australian VC Airtree Ventures.
With this round, the total capital raised by the company accounts for $10.8 million since its debut last year. The latest funding will be used to accelerate Kismet’s commitment to enhance worldwide health engagement and bolster both its team and global presence.
What challenge does it tackle?
Health systems globally are facing similar pressures, including rising costs driven by increasing incidence of chronic diseases, an aging population, inequitable access to services, and gaps in workforce and infrastructure. In addition, changing customer expectations are driving a need for more personalised, digital, seamless and integrated care experiences.
Founded by Lauren Grimes, Mark Woodland, Mathew Ellis, Sam Armstrong, and Stefan Cordiner in 2023 in Melbourne, Australia, Kismet aims to solve these challenges. It offers a digital community platform, which enables individuals to leverage their health insurance benefits to locate and schedule appointments with healthcare providers globally, accessible via the web or mobile devices.
The platform is designed to alleviate the caregiving pressures faced by individuals responsible for both elderly parents and young children, serving a broad range of needs across the age spectrum.
Inclusive online ecosystem
Kismet aims to increase and improve care services through its comprehensive digital ecosystem for the global in-home, disabled and aged segments that caters to all stakeholders, including care recipients, care coordinators, and service providers. It automatically books caregivers or recipients into healthcare appointments based on available insurance options.
the company champions a comprehensive approach to healthcare, linking care receivers, coordinators, and providers within a unified, efficient online ecosystem. Beyond breaking conventional barriers, Kismet offers a model that simplifies appointment booking and renders healthcare services more affordable by integrating insurance benefits, allowing for substantial savings. In just a year, Kismet has provided caregivers with access to over 35,000 providers and support coordinators.
Reflecting on the company’s rapid ascent, Mark Woodland, Co-founder and CEO of Kismet, stated, “Our first year has been transformative, evolving from an initial concept into a worldwide community. This injection of funds is more than just a financial milestone; it represents a significant advancement in our quest to democratise healthcare access globally.”
“Kismet is defining a completely new category in healthcare – positioned at the unique intersection of software, healthcare, ecommerce and payments. It is the first comprehensive digital ecosystem player in Australia, with a founding team that has demonstratable experience and success. We’re thrilled to lead this investment round and support the company as it seeks to redefine the caregiving experience.” said Sachin Bhanot, Head of Investments, SEA & ANZ, Prosus Ventures.
Elicia McDonald, Partner at Airtree, expressed her optimism: “Kismet, led by a robust management team and active community support, is charting a course towards monumental change. Having witnessed the team’s prior success with Xplor, we are enthusiastic about partnering again to revolutionise healthcare accessibility with Kismet.”
